Prince Andrew finds himself in another controversial spotlight due to his compromised reputation and pressing financial troubles, bringing fresh challenges for King Charles III. This comes in the wake of new court documents detailing Andrew’s involvement with a suspected Chinese operative.
Documents made public by the Special Immigration Appeals Commission reveal the testimony of Dominic Hampshire, a trusted aide to Prince Andrew. Hampshire arranged for meetings between Andrew and Tengbo Yang, a Chinese businessman suspected of espionage. Yang was eventually permitted to seek Chinese investments for Andrew’s Eurasia Fund initiative.
Andrew, known as the Duke of York, was forced to find new financial avenues after being stripped of royal duties following a 2019 BBC interview. The interview aimed to clarify Andrew’s connections to Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender, but faltered when Andrew failed to adequately address his ties or express empathy for Epstein’s victims, stated Hampshire.
“It became obvious post-Newsnight and in the subsequent months that the duke’s image was beyond repair,” Hampshire commented in his affidavit, dated May 2024. “The royal household internally recognized the necessity to explore future roles for the duke outside of royal engagements,” he further noted.
Left financially vulnerable, British authorities feared Andrew could be exploited by Yang, suspected of working for the United Front Work Department—part of the Chinese Communist Party aimed at foreign influence. Yang disputes these accusations.
In 2023, Yang was prohibited from entry into the UK for being a national security risk. This ban was upheld by the Special Immigration Appeals Commission in December 2024. Hampshire, who testified in Yang’s favor, claimed the king was briefed on the prince’s ventures.
“I had two discussions with the Duke and His Majesty about ways the Duke could progress in a manner acceptable to His Majesty,” Hampshire shared. “During both occasions, the Eurasia Fund and a potential investor were topics of discussion with His Majesty,” he further explained.
Buckingham Palace stated that King Charles had discussions with Andrew and his advisor regarding “outline proposals” for independent financial sources. Tengbo Yang was not a topic of discussion.
Andrew, King Charles’s younger brother, has frequently faced scrutiny for his associations with affluent foreigners, prompting concerns of attempts to gain access and influence within the royal family.
Hampshire’s statement was initially kept private. However, the commission published it due to appeals from various media, citing public interest. Hampshire, having departed from Andrew’s service in 2022, wished to keep his statement confidential to safeguard sensitive discussions involving Buckingham Palace and security services.
Previously, Andrew acknowledged following governmental advice to cease contact with the Chinese businessman when concerns were raised.
“The Duke’s encounters occurred through official channels with no sensitive matters discussed,” his office proclaimed in December. “Given the context, he cannot further comment on national security issues.”
British intelligence has grown increasingly wary of China’s potential influence over UK governmental policies. In 2022, Britain’s domestic intelligence agency, MI5, alerted politicians about a British-Chinese attorney allegedly influencing Parliament members inappropriately for several years. A parliamentary researcher faced arrest in 2023 for allegedly providing China with confidential information.
Having started his career as a junior civil servant in China, Yang moved to the UK as a student in 2002, achieving a master’s degree from the University of York. He subsequently started a consultancy firm aiding UK businesses with Chinese operations.
Yang gained indefinite residency rights in the UK in 2013, saying he spent part of each month in Britain and viewed it as a “second home.” However, his November 6, 2021, UK entry was halted, leading to the seizure of digital devices revealing a close relationship with Andrew through messages from Hampshire.
“You should never underestimate the strength of that relationship,” read prior excerpts from Hampshire’s messages. “You rank highly among those who are closely connected to my principal,” noted Hampshire.
In Friday’s document release, Hampshire described these statements as employing “artistic license.”
“As often happens in communication, there was considerable artistic license in complimenting and appeasing Mr. Yang to retain his support for the Duke,” Hampshire remarked.